I can try to enlighten you a little bit but I just completed my training so I’m fairly new to the game.
I’ve asked a few young guys and old heads about how much a guy can make. Seems the average is around 40k to 50k if you work in the yard. Working the road can bring in 60k or more.
It all boils down to how much you want to work. If you really want to make money, just answer that phone whenever it rings and open up your wallet because BNSF will fill it. Hopefully things will stay busy for a long time.
When you start your training, show up everyday, do your homework and study when you can. You’ll get through it just fine. I passed with a 100% score on both my RCO/Hostler and Conductor Promotion exams.
Don’t be a jerk during your OJT and work safely. You’ll work with a variety of people. Some of old rails will be a real pleasure to work with and others won’t. You’ll get a few old rails that spend more time making you laugh hard than actually training you!
As with any job, you’re always going to have a few turds in the punchbowl. Don’t let the ones with poor attitudes bring you down. Believe me, you will encounter them. Everything with them is doom and gloom. They spend a lot of time complaining and trying to screw the company. In the end all they’re doing is screwing the guy behind them.
Also, don’t sharp shoot the boards. All it does is piss off your coworkers and ruin your reputation. You’ll know what I mean once you start working.
Follow the rules and you won’t get into trouble. BNSF pays you to follow them. Some rules will seem kind of odd and make you wonder why they put it down in writing. But, I haven’t had a paycheck bounce yet so I’ll continue to do it their way.
Good luck with your training. It will be a fun ride!